India’s Virat Kohli had a lively and animated presence on the field during Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
As always, Kohli’s energy and enthusiasm were on full display, with the star batter frequently chasing the ball, sprinting across the field, and keeping the crowd engaged.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with fans chanting “Kohli, Kohli” every time he was involved in the action. The noise and excitement surrounding him further fueled his vibrant performance on the field.
A standout moment came during an entertaining interaction between Kohli and New Zealand batter Devon Conway.
As Conway defended a delivery, Kohli, eager as ever, rushed in to collect the ball. In typical Kohli fashion, he seized the opportunity to add a playful bit of mind games, nudging Conway with his shoulder and giving him an intense stare.
However, the moment quickly turned light-hearted, with Conway responding with a smile, which Kohli soon mirrored, leading to a brief yet friendly exchange between the two players. This playful encounter drew smiles from both the players and the crowd, adding to the overall energy of the game.
Devon Conway, meanwhile, carried his excellent form from the previous matches and played a crucial innings for New Zealand.
The left-handed batter, who scored 92 runs in the first Test in Bengaluru, was again the backbone of the New Zealand batting lineup, notching up a well-crafted 76 runs.
His ability to counter India’s spinners and score freely made him the top scorer for the visitors, helping them to a competitive total of 259.
On the bowling front, Washington Sundar was the star for India, making a remarkable comeback to the Test side.
Sundar spun a web around the Kiwi batters, picking up an impressive seven wickets and causing major collapses in New Zealand’s middle and lower order. He was well supported by Ravichandran Ashwin, who added three wickets to his tally, further tightening India’s grip on the match.
India’s response with the bat, however, didn’t get off to the best start. Captain Rohit Sharma, after facing just nine balls, was dismissed for a duck, leaving the hosts in a tricky position early in their innings. Despite this setback, young openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill showed resilience, helping India close Day 1 at 16/1.
As the match moves into Day 2, Virat Kohli’s role becomes even more crucial. With India in a delicate situation after the early loss of Rohit, Kohli’s experience and batting prowess will be key to stabilizing the innings and giving India a strong platform to build on.
Coming off a confident 70-run performance in the previous match, Kohli will look to carry that momentum forward and steer India towards a more favorable position in this Test.